Follow our Interview 101 compiled by our expert consultants who share their top tips and best practice.

In this weeks’ Interview 101 we’ll be covering the basics for how proper planning and preparation when it comes to pre-interview research can ensure you wow prospective employers and ease some of those nerves before you take the hot seat.

Follow our simple tips and you’ll be sure to be confident that you have the knowledge to answer any company related questions thrown your way.

Find the business website – this will be a treasure trove of information for you, not only informing you about the company, but also helping you decide if it’s where you want to work. Company websites portray corporate identity, give information on the history of the business, important staff members, such as founders, and useful facts about locations, mission statements, and the services they provide. Spending 20 minutes on your lunch break browsing a prospective employers website will give you a firm understanding of who they are, what they do, and what they will be looking for in you, as an employee. You can now feel confident you can handle any awkward questions about which branch was opened in 1978, and why the company logo is that lovely shade of magenta!

Check out their social presence – Beyond the corporate website many businesses now have a presence on the major social media platforms. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Linked in will further that knowledge gleaned from their website. More often though, it will offer more of an insight in to the culture of a business, which is all insider knowledge you can use to ensure you’re the right fit when you meet. Social platforms will also give a glimpse of how a business interacts with the public, and what sort of customer service issues they face, and how they respond. Depending on the role you’re applying for, information gained here could help you offer suggestions that demonstrate the business benefit you’d bring to the team when they choose you for their role.

Think like 007 – don’t wait till the last minute to plan your journey to your interview, instead, make sure you’ve planned it well in advance. Consider the time of day you’ll be travelling at, how you’re going to get there, and if you need to allow extra time to find parking, deal with engineering works, or hunt around for that elusive hidden entrance. Google earth, or street view can be a great tool for familiarising yourself with the area before you get there, and it’s always best to arrive early and take some time to relax in a coffee shop nearby, than be running through the door 5 minutes late and stressed out.

Dress to impress – Make sure you have a suitable outfit planned, and ready to slip on. Our guide to Interview appearances will ensure you’re fully covered in this regard and is worth checking out as part of your pre-interview preparation.

Have a contact number – as prepared as you can be, the unavoidable does occasionally happen. Make sure you have the name, and contact number, of someone in the business you’re interviewing at, or if you’re fortunate enough to be using our services, the direct line of your consultant at Market Talent. Always try and make contact if you’re unavoidably held up, most people will understand if the Central line is closed down, they’ll be less forgiving if you just don’t turn up and haven’t tried to let them know why.

In summary, you should always take the time, even if it’s just over a lunch break, to familiarise yourself with the prospective employers history and corporate identity, have a plan on how you’re going to get there, and what you’re going to wear, and then, how you’re going to wow them in the interview. Keep up to date with our interview 101 guides and let our expert consultants give you the edge.

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